Scripture to Memorize
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Proverbs 31:26–27
Passage to Read
Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
Proverbs 14:4 NASB
Dear Lord, my household can be such a challenge some days. It’s tempting to think my life would be so much better if I didn’t have anyone around here making a mess! But I know that’s not true. It’s the people and the critters that make this house a home. And yes, the more living beings I allow into my home, the more mess there is to clean up. But life is worth living, so messes are worth cleaning. Forgive me for all the times I’ve complained about the mess; a mess is just proof that I have enough blessings to make messes! Holy Spirit, I invite you to bring your loving correction when I lose perspective. Remind me: this is what a lived-in, loved-in home should be like. Grant me wisdom to manage all that goes on within these four walls. I need your grace to make it. Amen.
Personal
I know a surefire way to keep your house spotlessly clean. Never be there. Seriously, this works! The less time you spend at home, the neater your house will stay. Of course it’s not a strategy I want to adopt. Actually I like the truth of today’s Scripture: “Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.” We really live in our house. It is in constant use and it shows. I run a full-time ministry from a spare bedroom—complete with a huge inventory of books that spills over into the garage. I also homeschool, so we have schoolbooks and supplies, not to mention school project messes to contend with. We used to have farm animals. That really made life interesting, especially since the goats thought they belonged in the house and would just barge right in.
My house would be a whole lot cleaner if I went to work at an office and both my children attended school outside the home. But there’s much to be gained from homeschooling, working from home, and just plain living at home.
Because I firmly believe the home should be our central headquarters, I was alarmed when I learned that women who stay at home have a 54 percent higher death rate from cancer than women who work outside of the home, according to a seventeen-year study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency.1 Poor indoor air quality in American homes is a serious issue, and I believe the constant exposure to toxic household cleaning chemicals is a far more serious issue than most women realize.
As you watch over the affairs of your household, don’t overlook the importance of creating a healthy home. Keep windows cracked open all year-round—yes, even in extreme weather and especially at night. Don’t “seal” your house to save a few dollars. Your health is more important. You are sealing out fresh air and sealing in germs and household pollutants. When all those medical bills come due, you’ll realize you were penny-wise and pound-foolish. Whenever weather permits, air out your entire house. Throw open doors and windows (you can swat any bugs that sneak in). And change the filters in your furnace and air conditioning unit. I’ve marked my calendar the first day of every month: change air filters.
One key to keeping a clean, healthy home is making it as easy to maintain as possible. That’s the reason I’ve urged you to give away everything you can and keep clutter to a minimum. There’s more you can do. For example, we replaced all the wall-to-wall carpeting on our first floor with hardwood flooring. When we have the funds available, we intend to do the same on the second floor. Wood is much easier to keep clean and is more conducive to a healthy home environment. If you don’t believe me, rent a carpet shampoo machine and take a good hard look at the dirt it brings up. That’s what your kids have been rolling around on for the last X number of months. Gross! The next time your carpet needs to be replaced, consider replacing it with wood.
Dust mites are a major source of allergens, especially in children. Keep your home free from dust by making sure you vacuum upholstery and under beds. Use washable mattress and pillow covers. Wash linens weekly.
Now I want you to go through your house and gather up every household cleaning item. This might be quite a scavenger hunt for some of us! Read the labels. If they include bleach, ammonia, or any aerosol propellant, throw them out. Forget how much they cost you and think about how much they are costing you in terms of your health. Which matters more? In fact I would encourage you to discard all conventional cleaning products and purchase nature-based, nontoxic alternatives. You can visit my website if you’d like more information on the brands I use.
This is especially important if you have children in your home, because accidental poisoning in the home is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of five. Your home should be a haven not a hazard. Be sure it is not only clean but safely so.
Next, purchase three cleaning caddies, one for each of three distinct cleaning tasks: general purpose, bathroom, and kitchen. Fill each caddy with everything you need to clean each type of room safely. Yes, this will cost a little extra money, but it is well worth it for the increased efficiency you’ll experience. Here’s how to stock your three caddies:
General purpose: living room, dining room, and bedroom
Bathroom
Kitchen
Now stash each cleaning caddy in the room where it will be used most frequently. Tomorrow you’ll discover a very good reason for having more than one cleaning caddy. (Hint: it’s because you should have more than one cleaning person!)
Affirmation: I maintain a safe, healthy home environment.
Purchase three cleaning caddies, stock them with nontoxic cleaning supplies, and store them where they are easily accessible. Consider implementing other suggestions from the day’s reading.
Notebook: Mark your calendar for the first of every month: “Change air filters.”